The Massachusetts owner of three Shetland ponies found wandering Interstate 495 said the horses somehow opened and escaped through a back gate at his farm.

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Bill Morgan of Middleborough said he received a call from police Sunday evening informing him that his horses, Lady, Fancy and Shadow, were stopping traffic in the southbound lanes of the highway, WCVB-TV, Boston, reported Monday.

Police said they were able to wrangle the ponies into a van and take them back to their corral on Morgan's farm. Morgan, who owns for Shetland ponies, said none of the animals was injured.

"You can tell the story ends well, but it could have been disastrous. We're very thankful to the state police and to the dog officer in Middleborough," Morgan said.

Morgan said he purchased a new padlock for the back gate.